Neon Genesis Evangelion (manga)

Neon Genesis Evangelion
Cover to the first English edition of the Neon Genesis Evangelion manga, published by Viz Media in 1998
新世紀エヴァンゲリオン (Shin Seiki Evangelion)
Genre	Mecha, psychological, Apocalyptic fiction
Manga
Written by	Yoshiyuki Sadamoto
Published by	Kadokawa Shoten
English publisher	Chuang Yi Publishing (for Madman Entertainment) Viz Media
Demographic	Shōnen, Seinen
Magazine	Shōnen Ace (1995–2009) Young Ace (2009–2010, 2011)
Original run	February 1995 – ongoing
Volumes	12 (List of volumes)
Anime and Manga Portal

Neon Genesis Evangelion (新世紀エヴァンゲリオン, Shin Seiki Evangelion^?) is a long-running manga series by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto and published by Kadokawa Shoten. It began in the February issue of Shōnen Ace in December 1994.^[1] It consists of 13 volumes, each composed of several "stages" or chapters. Twelve of these volumes have been released.

Initially released before the anime series of the same name, the manga was quickly outpaced by the TV series, and is now approaching its conclusion, over a decade after the TV series concluded.

History

The Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise was created after a meeting between Hideaki Anno and King Records in 1993. Although the anime of the same name was conceived first, the manga was released before the TV series. The plan was to boost public interest in the upcoming TV series while it was still under production. Due to severe production delays on the TV series, it ultimately aired a full 10 months after the manga first appeared in Shōnen Ace.

When the series finally premiered in October 1995, Sadamoto's manga storyline (which would later become volumes 1 to 3) had reached the battle against the cube Angel Ramiel, corresponding to episodes 5 and 6 of the TV series. The TV series soon rapidly outpaced the manga, to the point that the chapters comprising volume 4 (which included the introduction of Asuka, corresponding to TV episode 8) were not released until over a year after the TV series had finished airing.^[2] Sadamoto would continue to have a slow production schedule on the manga as he divided his time between other projects, releasing a new volume (out of an initially planned twelve) at a rate of roughly one every year and a half.

While the manga has been running for more than 15 years, only 12 volumes have been published. The reason for this is that while the ostensible publishing schedule was one "stage" a month in Shōnen Ace, Sadamoto's actual publication schedule has been irregular. For example, between the publication in Japan of volume 4 and volume 5, two years elapsed.^[3]

In 2008, it was announced that the Neon Genesis Evangelion manga was approaching its conclusion. In July 2009, it was moved to a new Shoten seinen magazine, Young Ace.^[4] It was published there until the January 2010 issue, when Sadamoto stopped writing the manga, putting the publication on hiatus in order to work on the latest Rebuild of Evangelion film. The December 2010 issue of Young Ace announced that the manga would resume that 'winter' (early 2011); the April 2011 issue announced the next stage would be published April 4, 2011.^{[5][dated info]}

Relation to the TV series

The Neon Genesis Evangelion TV series was conceived of in 1993, after a meeting between Hideaki Anno and King Records. Gainax then planned to boost public interest in the upcoming TV series, while it was still under production, by releasing Sadamoto's manga several months in advance of the premiere date. However, due to severe production delays on the TV series, it ultimately a full 10 months after the manga first appeared in Shōnen Ace. When the series finally premiered in October 1995, Sadamoto's manga storyline (what would later become volumes 1 to 3) had reached the battle against the cube Angel Ramiel, corresponding to episodes 5 and 6 of the TV series.

The TV series soon rapidly outpaced the manga, to the point that the chapters comprising volume 4 (which included the introduction of Asuka, corresponding to TV episode 8) were not released until over a year after the TV series had finished airing.^[6] Sadamoto would continue to have a slow production schedule on the manga as he divided his time between other projects, releasing a new volume (out of an initially planned twelve) at a rate of roughly one every year and a half.

Therefore, Sadamoto's manga is an adaptation of the TV series. While technically the first few volumes were released before the TV series premiered, the TV series was conceived of two years before, and most of it was produced after the TV series.

Character differences from the anime

Sadamoto was the original character designer for the anime with Hideaki Anno as the supervisor. His manga versions of the characters and plot often differ in subtle ways from the TV series.^[7]

Shinji Ikari

Shinji Ikari's eyes are brown instead of blue. He is also less introverted and expresses himself more, although he is still plagued by self-doubt and hatred for his father to the point where while dissolved in his Eva (episode 20), he imagines that he actually kills him.

Rei Ayanami

Rei Ayanami is more of a "human" character in the manga, in that she is slightly more talkative and becomes more connected with the people around her, largely through her interactions with Shinji. The manga also shows her thoughts and feelings, and indirectly shows that she is in love with Shinji.

Asuka Langley Soryu

Asuka Langley Soryu is not as verbally abusive toward Shinji and somewhat more open about her true feelings, but is still as difficult to get along with and initially slightly more of a brat, putting on a "good girl" facade in front of authority figures. Her feelings for Shinji are not quite as easily discovered, though it is hinted in various chapters that she is attracted to him. She is a test-tube baby of genius parents, her first meeting with Shinji and his friends is different, and she is left in a comatose state immediately after being defeated by Arael.

Kaworu Nagisa

Kaworu Nagisa is introduced earlier in the storyline. He fights Armisael alongside Rei in Unit 02. Kaworu is portrayed as being ignorant of many aspects of social interaction, creating some comic relief, but is also colder and more of an unsettling presence than in the anime. Because of this, Shinji dislikes and distrusts Kaworu, while Kaworu makes advances toward Shinji and is upset that Shinji does not return his affections. Sadamoto stated this is because of him picking up Rei's emotions.

Toji Suzuhara

Toji Suzuhara's English-translated dialogue is heavily accented (due to him being from Osaka), and his hair color is changed. He is more verbally abusive toward Asuka, calling her "bitch" multiple times. He is killed during Volume 6 of the manga series instead of being crippled. Additionally, Shinji is aware that Toji is the pilot of Unit 03 before the battle against Bardiel.

Ryoji Kaji

Ryoji Kaji is given more of a back story; he tells Shinji of his past to motivate Shinji to return to Nerv after the fight against Bardiel (this takes place in a hidden supplies cellar rather than a watermelon patch).

Gendou Ikari

Gendou Ikari is Shinji's Father, His behavior, looks and final desire are different from the anime series. He plays one of the most relevant roles in the manga, even more so when he becomes involved with the AT-Field from Adam. Gendou successfully managed to take full control of the power and he is driven mad, with aspirations towards being a god.

Yui Ikari/Unit 01

In addition to the presence of Yui Ikari's soul inside Unit 01, the Eva's Angelic aspect has its own identity, depicted as the unarmored Eva. This being shows itself to both Shinji and Rei while they are synchronized with the Eva, and it attempts to trap Shinji inside the Eva with itself after the battle with the Angel Zeruel by taking Yui's form and manipulating Shinji's desire for contact with his mother. Rei is able to establish a mental link with this Angelic part of Unit 01 while outside the Eva, and the two acknowledge that they are directly connected to each other.

Reception

With the success of the anime, the manga has also become a commercial success; the first 10 volumes have sold over 15 million copies,^[8] and the 11th volume reached #1 on the Tohan charts,^[9] taking the total to over 17 million.^[10] In particular, as the manga has drawn closer to its conclusion, attention surrounding it has reached new heights, with the 11th volume staying atop the Japanese Comic Ranking charts for 4 straight weeks, a remarkable achievement even for long-running series.^[11] It won the 1996 Comicker fan manga poll.^[12] Volume 12 opened at #1 on Oricon's manga rankings and has sold over 600,000 copies.^[9]

English release

Viz claims that its releases of Evangelion were the first releases of an unflipped manga in English.^[13] In August 2011, Viz announced that the manga would be serialized at $1 a chapter online and through its Apple apps.^[14]

See also

Anime and Manga portal

• List of Neon Genesis Evangelion chapters
• Neon Genesis Evangelion: Angelic Days
• Neon Genesis Evangelion: Shinji Ikari Raising Project
• Neon Genesis Evangelion: Campus Apocalypse

References

1. ^ Timeline (pg 16), Takeda 2002. pg 162 of Fujie 2004.
2. ^ Takeda 2002
3. ^ "You've been anxiously waiting for two years! Vol. 5 is finally here! First, I'd like to give a heartfelt "thank you" to those of you who bought this book and are reading it now. I know you kind souls won't ask any questions about why it is so late, and will wait just as patiently for Vol. 6. Yes... I know you'll wait. I think you'll wait. Probably." (Emphasis in the original. Author's note in Viz's volume 5, ISBN 1-59116-403-6).
4. ^ "News: Kadokawa to Launch Young Ace Magazine with Eva in July (Update 2)". animenewsnetwork.com. 2009-03-21. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-03-21/kadokawa-to-launch-young-ace-magazine-with-eva-in-july. 
5. ^ "Sadamoto's Evangelion Manga to Resume in April". Anime News Network. 2011-03-02. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-03-02/sadamoto-evangelion-manga-to-resume-in-april. Retrieved 2011-09-05. 
6. ^ Takeda 2002
7. ^ "Although the basic events of each anime episode occur in the EVA manga, the way individual scenes unfold is often quite different from how things happen in the TV show...In the first installment of the manga, for example, before Shinji even arrives at NERV headquarters, Rei engages the Third Angel, using the Eva Unit-01 that will later become Shinji's to pilot. You won't find this incident in the first episode of the EVA anime. Shinji, our protagonist, also displays a subtle shift in character. He is somewhat less withdrawn in his actions than in the anime, yet more openly cynical. Compare Shinji's remark to Misato about NERV's purpose as they enter its headquarters; he says it in a neutral manner in the anime -- but in a markedly sarcastic tone in the manga. And check out the "Institutionalized" essay with which Shinji opens the story..." Carl Horn [1]
8. ^ "In that time new things with story have happened and Sankei Shimbun has interesting new information on the project already. First off they mention the original 3 Eva films made 4.5 billion Yen in total at the Japanese box office. The manga published by Kadokawa Shoten has exceeded 15 million copies sold over the existing 10 volumes." from "9-9-06 (8:55AM EDT)---- Further Evangelion Shin Gekijou Ban Details" [2] [3] by the Anime News Service.
9. ^ ^{a b} "News: Japanese Comic Ranking, March 29-April 4". animenewsnetwork.com. 2010-04-07. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-04-07/japanese-comic-ranking-march-29-april-4. 
10. ^ "Sadamoto designed characters for the legendary anime but was more involved in drawing the manga adaptation of Evangelion, which began its print run in Gekkan Shōnen Esu, a monthly magazine for boys, in February 1995--before the anime series was launched on TV. As of 2008, the anime series has already receded more than a decade into the past, and two movie versions have come and gone, but the manga series has not ended yet. It still continues, though irregularly, in the same magazine. So far, the manga episodes have been compiled into 11 volumes in Japanese, while San Francisco-based Viz Media has translated 10 of them into English. In Japan, the book form has sold more than 17 million copies in total." from The Daily Yomiuri (Tokyo) March 7, 2008 Friday. "Grim, complex 'Evangelion' easier to digest in print form"; by Shigefumi Takasuka, Daily Yomiuri Staff Writer, Yomiuri; Pg. 13
11. ^ "Japanese Comic Ranking, June 26–July 16". AnimeNewsNetwork.com. 2007-07-18. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-07-18/japanese-comic-ranking-june-26-july-16. Retrieved 2007-07-18. 
12. ^ "...the EVANGELION manga was the 1996 winner of Japanese manga-focus magazine COMICKERS' fan poll for best manga." http://web.archive.org/web/19980613050234/http://www.viz.com/eva/eva.shtml
13. ^ "In an unprecedented move for manga in English, Neon Genesis Evangelion is being offered in two special monthly formats: regular, reading from left to right; and Neon Genesis Evangelion Special Collector's Edition, printed from right to left with original sound effects, exactly as first published in Japan. Comic connoisseurs have for years requested 'unflipped' manga in the original Japanese format, and now Viz Comics answers the demand." [4]
14. ^ "Digital Version of Sci-Fi Manga Masterpiece Neon Genesis Evangelion Launces on VIZManga.com and the VIZ Manga App". Anime News Network. 2011-08-15. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2011-08-15/digital-version-of-sci-fi-manga-masterpiece-neon-genesis-evangelion-launces-on-vizmanga.com-and-the-viz-manga-app. Retrieved 2011-09-05. 

General references

• Fujie, Kazuhisa; Martin Foster (2004). Neon Genesis Evangelion: The Unofficial Guide. Tokyo, Japan; printed in the USA: DH Publishing, Inc.. ISBN 0-9745961-4-0. 
• Takeda, Yasuhiro; Yu Sugitani, Yasuhiro Kamimura, Takayoshi Miwa; translated by Javier Lopez, Jack Wiedrick, Brendan Frayne, Kay Bertrand, Gina Koerner, Hiroaki Fukuda, and Sheridan Jacobs (2002, 2005). The Notenki memoirs: studio Gainax and the men who created Evangelion. ADV Manga. p. 190. ISBN 1-4139-0234-0. 

External links

• Neon Genesis Evangelion (manga) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
• http://www.ex.org/1.1/22-manga_eva.html
• http://www.ex.org/2.7/29-manga_eva.html
• http://www.ex.org/4.1/29-manga_evangelion.html
• The Rose review of vol. 1